Fusee cap having a spark deflector shield

Abstract

A fusee cap includes a fusee cap body having a scratch surface for frictional engagement with the head of a fusee to cause fusee ignition and a spark deflector shield projecting from the fusee cap body to deflect sparks produced during ignition.

I claim: 
     
       1. A fusee cap for use with a fusee having a fusee head with an ignition compound coating an outer surface of said fusee head to ignite the fusee, said fusee cap comprising, in combination: a fusee cap body defining an interior for accommodating the fusee head of a fusee and for covering an ignition compound coating an outer surface of the fusee head and including a closed end partially defining said interior having a scratch element with a generally planar scratch surface disposed on the outside of said closed end and spaced from said interior for frictional engagement with the fusee head of the fusee after removal of the fusee head from said interior to cause fusee ignition due to relative sideways movement between said generally planar scratch surface and said fusee head; and   a spark deflector shield having an open distal end connected to said fusee cap body, partially surrounding said scratch element, and projecting from said fusee cap body in a direction away from said generally planar scratch surface to deflect sparks produced during frictional engagement between the generally planar scratch surface and the fusee head of the fusee due to relative sideways movement between said scratch element and said fusee head, said spark deflector shield defining an opening in a side thereof communicating with the open distal end allowing passage of the fusee therethrough during relative sideways movement between said scratch element and said fusee head during ignition of said fusee.   
     
     
       2. The fusee cap according to claim 1 wherein said spark deflector shield is integrally connected to said fusee cap body. 
     
     
       3. The fusee cap according to claim 2 wherein said spark deflector shield and said fusee cap body are of molded plastic construction. 
     
     
       4. The fusee cap according to claim 1 wherein said spark deflector shield comprises a curved plate. 
     
     
       5. The fusee cap according to claim 4 additionally comprising a closure removably connectable to said fusee cap body, said scratch element and said curved plate being spaced from one another and defining a curved channel for receiving said closure, said closure when received in said curved channel being in frictional engagement with said scratch element to retain said closure on said fusee cap body. 
     
     
       6. The fusee cap according to claim 1 wherein said spark deflector shield extends around at least one half of said scratch element. 
     
     
       7. The fusee cap according to claim 1 wherein said spark deflector shield has a curved deflector shield surface spaced from said scratch element. 
     
     
       8. The fusee cap according to claim 7 wherein said scratch element has a circular-shaped outer peripheral surface and wherein said curved deflector shield surface is substantially uniformly spaced from said scratch element circular-shaped outer peripheral surface. 
     
     
       9. The fusee cap according to claim 1 wherein said spark deflector shield includes two spaced ends defining said opening, said spaced ends extending outwardly from said generally planar scratch surface to the open distal end of said spark deflector shield.